STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)
AND PROCESS DOCUMENTATION FOR
CONTENT REVIEW.
ARTWORK
Artwork –iTunes reference.
7.1. Accuracy. The art must not be misleading. For example, prominently depicting or referencing an artist even though the artist does not perform on the
album.
7.2. Quality. Images must not be blurry, pixelated, mismatched, misaligned, rotated, or have other quality issues.
7.3. Additional Information. Art must not contain website addresses, logos, QR codes, or references to competitors of Apple Music and the iTunes Store.
Art must not contain references to the audio file format, such as Atmos, Dolby Atmos, spatial audio, lossless, high-resolution audio, high resolution, 24-bit, or
192 kHz.
The art must not upsell to another product and must not include references to pricing, such as “Reduced Price,” “Low Price,” “Available for $9.99,” or “For
Promo Use.”
7.4. References to Physical Packaging, Digital Products, or Retailers. Art must not include references to the physical packaging, such as CD or vinyl, digital
product, or any retailers.
7.5. Pornography. Art must not contain pornography or a URL for a website that contains or links to pornography.
7.6. Cultural Sensitivities. Art must not promote hatred based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national/ethnic origin, or other identities.
Artwork
Do NOT include
There should be no websites, twitter handles, YouTube links, phone numbers etc.…
Extra text outside your release title and artist name which is misleading.
All the names listed as the Main Artist section must also be mentioned on the artwork.
Mismatching text on artwork and artist name/title (i.e., if you're uploading a single, but your art says the album title where the
single will later appear, this is a conflict. You must enter the single's title or no title on the art).
Email addresses, URLs, or any other contact information or any pricing information
Stickers or other items from your artwork in case you are scanning it in from a physical CD - please remove them.
Anything suggesting that your release is a physical or digital product, such as "CD," "DVD," "Digital Exclusive."
Cut off artwork (cut off text or images) or blurry artwork.
Artwork that is compressed into one corner with the rest of the image having white space.
Anything saying "iTunes" or referencing a digital store name or logo.
Any copyrighted images that you do not own the rights to distribute.
Artwork
Artwork
Incorrect: Time Sensitive – “Nuevo” Incorrect: Extra info – “ABER LASS IHN GEHEN”
Artist name
Title
Artist name
Title
Unacceptable Examples- Unacceptable Examples-
Artwork
Extra info – “December Heartbreak”
Artist name
Title
Acceptable Example Unacceptable Examples-
Artwork
Artist name
Title
Acceptable Example
Extra info – “Party Punk At School, Est 2010, Study of
Music”
Unacceptable Examples-
Acceptable Example
Artwork
Extra information on artwork – Ok to approve”
Unacceptable Examples-
Artist name
Title
Artwork
According to a recent iTunes update, all the names listed in the
Main Artist section must also appear on the artwork.
Just one main artist ‘El Manni’ mentioned on
artwork. Customer also need to mention ‘Trippy’ &
‘Vipul Kapoor’ as well
Acceptable Example
Artwork –unused Space
Unacceptable Examples-
•Unused space within artwork should not be confused with the white space surrounding it. It is important to focus on identifying and
addressing unused or negative spaces. For instance, when placing a landscape image within a square 4x4 artwork, negative space will be
present at the top and bottom, constituting technically unused areas.
Unacceptable Examples-
Audio Fingerprinting
Artwork –Apple flags
Release flagged by Apple:
Here's what Apple let us know:
7.2. Quality. Images must not be blurry,
pixelated, mismatched, misaligned, rotated,
or have other quality issues.
Artwork is heavily cropped with excessive
whitespace.
-Noah (Central team)
Unacceptable Examples-
Audio Fingerprinting
Artwork –Off centered
•This artwork is not properly aligned with the top and
right edges, which may lead to it being flagged by Apple.
7.2. Quality. Images must not be low quality, pixelated,
misaligned, rotated, or have other quality issues.
Audio Fingerprinting
For artwork –Can be included –
Extra information such as quotes / lyrics / bible verses etc. are acceptable words.
Please note that any additional information on artwork is acceptable if it is not misleading, where the text on
artwork does not match any of the release information such as Main Artist or featuring or contributor names or
titles.
Version information mentioned in the ‘title’ such as – Remix / Remastered / cover etc., are not mandatory on
artwork, hence if title matches with the artwork & version information is not written on artwork –it is acceptable!
As this is not misleading. However, in opposite scenario where if version info is there on artwork but in the title
then it would be a misleading info & need to be correctly addressed in release title as well.
Watermarks of photographers or artist signatures on artwork are fine to approve.
Artwork
•ROTH LIVES! is not "extra information”• Atlanta, GA is not "extra information”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
Artwork
Artwork
Extra information on artwork – Ok to approve”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
Artwork
“Creative parental logo – Ok to approve”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
“Creative artwork with abstract texts on it.”
Artwork
“Acceptable unused space”
Acceptable Example- Acceptable Example-
Creative artwork with acceptable texts -
“First Class -Gate: xx Boarding: xx Terminal 1”
Artist name
Title
Artwork –unused Space
“Acceptable unused space”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
Artwork –unused Space
“Acceptable unused space”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
Artwork
Extra information on artwork “Fruits
Music”– Ok to approve”
Acceptable Example Acceptable Example
Extra information on artwork “Top Striker Music
Group” & logos on L & R bottom – Ok to approve”
Artwork –QR Code
QR Code
Here's what Apple let us know:
7.3. Additional Information. Art must not
contain website addresses, logos, QR
codes, or references to competitors of
Apple Music and the iTunes Store.
Please remove the QR code from the
Cover Art.
Unacceptable Examples-
Artwork –Artistic & blurred
Acceptable Example
•Intentionally blurred artwork, such as in this
example, falls within acceptable
parameters and should not be flagged as
blurry or of poor quality. Such creative
artworks are intentionally designed to
convey the mood of the song or lyrics.
Artwork –Acceptable
parental logos
•These are examples of creative parental logos that do not portray explicit content.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to conduct a comprehensive review of the
artwork in all cases.
Artwork: Contact, Store, and Time Sensitive Info
●Artwork: Contact, Store, and Time Sensitive Info: There should be no websites, twitter handles, YouTube links, phone numbers
etc. Sensitive info such as Identity cards, license plates, currency sequences etc.
Stores / Digital platforms / Social Media logos, handles / Websites / E-mail / Contact No.
Artwork
●Artwork: Reference to physical packaging: No reference to physical packaging such as DVDs, CDs, discs, barcodes, QR codes
etc.
Artwork
Artwork
Artwork
Artwork
